Coupler yoke



y 5, 1931. G. T. JOHNSON 1,803,802

COUPLER YOKE Filed July 28, 1927 Patented May 5, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

GEORGE T. JOHNSON, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE BUCKEYE STEEL OASTINGS COMPANY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO COUPLER YOKE Application filed July 28, 1927. Serial No. 208,998.

This invention relates to draft-rigging for cars and has special reference to the construction of the front hooded end of the draft yoke, the object being to increase the strength and thereby prolong the life of the yoke and also to obtain more effectual resistance to any prying action which may be exerted by the coupler in swiveling on the sides of the yoke. The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing and will be hereinafter fully described, the novel features being particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, Figure l is partly a side elevation and partly a longitudinal vertical section of a yoke embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view partly in horizontal section and partly in top plan view.

The yoke comprises the usual top and bottom straps l and 2 and the side walls 3 forming, with the roof and floor extensions 4 and 5, a box or hood in which the shank of the coupler is inserted, while the usual longitudinal slots 6 are provided in the side walls to accommodate the transverse key which holds the yoke and the coupler shank together.

The extensions 4 and 5 of the straps have portions 7 of their inner surfaces flat and parallel with the plane of the slots 6 thereby forming guides for the coupler shank which will practically eliminate vertical vibration of the shank. It is to be understood, that the particular detail form of the roof and floor shown need not be adhered to and the guiding surfaces may be extended to the rear edges of the side walls. In the present device, the roof and floor extensions are carried forward so as to terminate approximately in a vertical plane touching the front ends of the slots, as indicated at 8, whereby they form a very effectual tie for the side walls, and, in order to accommodate the elongations of the roof and floor, the end contour of the side walls is made to follow straight or nearly straight lines 9, parallel with the slots 6, at top and bottom in the region of the front end portion of the roof and floor. A vertical shoulder 10 at the front edge of the floor reduces the vertical extent of the side wall to provide clearance for the coupler carrier iron, and a like shoulder 11 is provided at the front of the roof for the sake of symmetry, and to allow the yoke to be applied with either side down.

Heretofore, so far as I am aware, the front terminals of the roof and floor were located in a vertical plane substantially midway the ends of the slots and the front end portions of the side walls were not tied together. As a result, there was insuflicient resistance to the prying force of the coupler during the swiveling action of the latter and fractures of the side walls at the front edge of the roof or the floor frequently occurred. The dimensions of the slots 6 have been standardized and the dimensions of the coupler shank have been standardized, and it has been deemed necessary generally to terminate the roof and floor well back of the front ends of the slots in order to provide an opening in which the standard coupler shank might be inserted. The improved construction herein shown and described accommodates standard coupler shank and key slots and also strengthens the hood at what were critical points in previous constructions, and also retains ample clearance for the carrier iron for the coupler. The sides of the yoke are effectually tied together so that stiffness is added to the entire structure, increasing the strength and durability of the yoke. It will also be noted that with the present structure, when the key is in place, the minimum section in the pulling direction is well beyond the front edge bearing of the key, whereas in the previous constructions the minimum section was at the front edge bearing of the key and the hood was very apt to crack and break.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is v 1. A draft yoke provided at its forward end with a hood in which a coupler shank may be inserted and having standard keyreceiving slots in its sides, the roof and floor of the hood being extended forward and terminating approximately in the vertical plane of the front ends of the slots, the inner opposed surfaces of the front end portions of the roof and the floor being fiat and parallel with the plane of the slots to form ,a guide for the coupler shank and being set nearer the slots than their rear portions.

2. An integral draft yoke provided at its forward end with a hood for receiving a coupler shank and having standard keyreceiving slots in its sides, the straps of the yoke being extended to form the roof and floor of the hood and the roof and floor tieing the sides for substantially the full length of the sides, the rear portions of the roof and floor converging toward the vslots and the inner opposed surfaces of the front end portions of the roof and floor being flat and parallel with the plane of the slots and terminating approximately in the vertical plane of the front ends of the slots.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

. GEORGE T. JOHNSON. 

